I’ve always dreamed of owning waterfront property. The sound of waves, the mesmerizing peace of a waterfall, the aroma of salt laced air, or the calmness that envelops me when I silently watch the movements of aquatic creatures fills me with the ability to just be, in the moment.
Alas, beachfront, lakefront, riverfront or babbling mountain brook property has not yet materialized- primarily because of life choices we have made based.
Of few years ago, we seriously considered selling our moonscape property on a shale ridge at the edge of the Shenandoah Valley. Then during Covid we power washed our deck, looked around, and decided it made sense to enter the next stage of our lives where we are and create our own spot of paradise. That vision included building a koi pond with a waterfall.
We started looking for contractors to implement our vision (well- mine anyway). Todd found a fabulous resource and forwarded it to me: https://aquaticcreationsnva.com/
I immediately reached out to Noah Manuel, Owner & Certified Master Contractor of Aquatic Creations of Northern Virginia. We met. He surveyed the property, discussed my vision and budget, created a design that beautified our landscape using Virginia boulders and incorporating a few aquatic plants, and ensured the pond was finished by my 65th birthday.
Our final step: the addition of 5 koi from https://nextdaykoi.com/. Yes, there is actual a resource to purchase koi by overnight shipping!
Almost immediately, one of the koi swam into the skimmer and met an untimely end. Noah cautioned that koi are not known for their cognitive abilities. So, I ventured to the now closed Lily Pons Water Gardens outside Frederick, Maryland and collected an additional 3 koi, anticipating a few more losses. So far, we’ve been fortunate. The Blue Heron and Owl decoys appear to be keeping predators away.
This is a work in progress; but I have to confess installing this pond is the best thing I’ve done for my mental and emotional health in decades. Filled with gratitude for my 10 foot beachfront in the back yard.
